Suspicious Dry Runs Have Airports Worried

A news report came out overnight how airports have been alerted to a series of suspicious incidents at airports around the country that may have been dry runs to see how security handles such situations.

Airport security officers around the nation have been alerted by federal officials to look out for terrorists practicing to carry explosive components onto aircraft, based on four curious seizures at airports since last September.

The unclassified alert was distributed on July 20 by the Transportation Security Administration to federal air marshals, its own transportation security officers and other law enforcement agencies.

The seizures at airports in San Diego, Milwaukee, Houston and Baltimore included "wires, switches, pipes or tubes, cell phone components and dense clay-like substances," including block cheese, the bulletin said. "The unusual nature and increase in number of these improvised items raise concern."

Security officers were urged to keep an eye out for "ordinary items that look like improvised explosive device components."

The 13-paragraph bulletin was posted on the Internet by NBC Nightly News, which first reported the story.

A federal official familiar with the document confirmed the authenticity of the NBC posting but declined to be identified by name because it has not been officially released.

"There is no credible, specific threat here," TSA spokeswoman Ellen Howe said Tuesday. "Don't panic. We do these things all the time."

So, what are you supposed to do if you see something suspicious? If you see something, say something, says law enforcement officials around the country. However, Democrats are trying to prevent legislation that would provide immunity for those who would report suspicious behavior and incidents in case their suspicions turn out to be wrong. This became an issue after the flying imams incident and CAIR sought to sue those who reported the incident to the authorities.

I'll tell you what I would do. If I saw something suspicious, I would speak up. I'd take my chances with the legal system, knowing that an honest mistake is far better than being silent and it turns out to be a terrorist incident.